Pen-holder for cripples



(No Model.)

B. RAMSEY.

PEN HOLDER FOR GRIPPLBS.

No. 426.324. Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

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UN ITED STATES ATENT rFIcE.

RUDOLPH RAMSEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PEN-"HOLDER FOR G-RIPPLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,324, dated April 22, 1890.

Application filed January 21, 1890- Serial No. 387,594. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH RAMSEY, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pen-Holders for Cripples; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. I

This invention relates to a novel device for holding and supporting a pen-holder, pencil, or similar article, and with which the hand can be engaged for guiding the article in use.

The device is adapted to be used by persons whose hands or fingers are crippled, paralyzed, or weak, or for otherwise assisting persons in writing.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention having a penholder engaged therewith and showing, also, a

hand in dotted lines engaged with the holding device. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the same, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are end and side elevations, respectively, of modified forms of construction, each embodying my'invention.

In said drawings, Figs. 1 to 4, both inclusive, A indicates as a whole the holder, which comprises a looped lower end portion A and an upper extended or upright portion A The lower looped portion A, as shown in Fig. 1, is adapted for the reception of the hand of the writer, and is composed of a thin flat material formed into a suitable loop, as shown. In forming said loop it is preferable to make the lower middle portion a curved slightly upward, so that at the ends thereof two prominences a a may be provided, which are below said central portion a, thus forming bearing-surfaces of said parts a" a, which rest upon the paper or article being written upon. The loop A is made of thin flexible material, so that when the hand is inserted therein said loop will bend and conform somewhat to the shape thereof. To this end I have shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the said loop A as made of very thin material, preferably veneering, and to give it the desired strength two pieces a and a are employed, which are glued or fastened together in any convenient or ordinary manner. The interior surface of the said handloop A may be provided with a lining a of some soft material-such as felt or cloth-to avoid a hard surface, against which the hand rests.

The upright or extended portion A with which the pen is engaged, is conveniently located upon the loop in such a position as to be at an incline to the writingsurface when the ends a a of the loop rest thereon. Said upright extension A is usually made of a separate piece suitably joined to the loop. In Figs. 1 to 4': said extension A is shown as being provided with a recess or opening a extending through the same from front to rear. Ablock A is located within said opening, and is provided with an inclined perforation a, in which the end of the pen-holder or pencil is inserted and therein held by frictional contact or other convenient manner. The said block A is pivotally secured within the opening a by means of a screw-bolt or pivot-pin ad, which passes through the sides of the upright portion A and through said block A The said pin a isprovided at one end with a thumb-screw, nut, or handle a rigidly con nected thereto and by which it can be turned. At its other end said pin a is provided with a nut or tap a". It follows from this construction that by unscrewing the pin co from the nut to the block A can be turned upon the same as a pivot, and after being adjusted to the desired positon can be secured therein by screwing up said thumbpiece a thus pressing the sides of the upright extension A against the block A with sufficient force to hold the same by frictional contact.

B is a pen-holder, shown in operative engagement with the block A The manner of using the device will be plainly obvious. The penholder B or other implement is engaged with the block A and said block adjusted to bring the point of the pen against the writing-surface when the ends of the loop rest against the same. The

hand of the writer is then inserted through the hand-loop A sufficiently to be engaged with the latter, so that by suitably moving the hand the pen will be moved over the paper in such manner as to make the desired characters. The hand-loopis made sufficiently large to permit the position of the hand therein to be shifted to bring the pen in different positions, as the circumstances may require, such changed position of the holding device A and the pen-holder B being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

It is obvious that pen-holders of different sizes may be used, in which case, by changing the inclination of the block A the pen can be brought into operative position.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the upright extension A is made in one piece with the perforation a extending through it. It is obvious that in this form the inclination of the pen-holder cannot be changed.

In the foregoing figures the device is preferably made of wood; but it is obvious that the device can be cast or otherwise made of thin metal. In Fig. 6 I have shown a con'stru 0- tion of this character in which A indicates the loop. A is the upright extension comprising a cross-piece or socket A having a perforation a for the pen-holder, said socket being supported upon the loop A by integral posts or supports A A In such a'device the hand-loop can be made thin enough to give the desired flexibility, and the other parts can be made light enough to make a device that can be easily manipulated.

In the foregoing description I have referred to the pen B as being engaged with the upright A but it is obvious that any implement capable of making a marksuch, for example, as apiece of chalk or a paint-brush may be used with equal facility. I therefore do not. wishto limit myself to the use of said device in connection with a pencil or penholder. It will also be well understood that I may secure the pencil or brush or other implement in the hole 0. otherwise than byfrictional contactas, for example, by a spring or a set-screw or other common and wellknown holding device.

I claim as my invention 1. The device of the kind specified, comprising a hand-loop provided with a part in which a Writing implement may be secured, substantially as described.

2. A pen-holder for cripples, comprising a hand-loop and an upright extension thereon in which a'writing implement maybe secured, substantially as described.

3. A device of the kind specified, comprising a hand-loop having downwardly-extended end portions for resting against the writingsurface, and provided with a part for holding a Writingimplement, substantially as described.

4. A pen-holder for cripples, comprising a hand-loop and an upright inclined extension thereon in which awriting implement may be secured, substantially as described.

5. A device of the kind specified, comprising a hand-loop, an upright extension thereon, and a perforation through said upright extension in which a writing implement may besecured, substantially as described.

('3. A device of the kind specified, comprising a hand-loop and an upright extension having an adjustable block for holding a Writing implement, substantially as described.

7. A device of the kind specified, comprising a hand-loop, an upright extension, an opening or recess in said extension, and a block for holding a writing implement pivotally secured within said opening, substantially as described.

8. A device of the kind specified, compris-.

ing a hand-loop, an upright extension, an opening or recess in said extension, a block in said opening or recess, a perforation in said block, and a screw-threaded pivot-pin passing through said extension and block and provided at its ends with a thumb-piece and a nut, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLPH. RAMSEY.

WVitnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN,

HARRY COBB KENNEDY. 

